Friday, January 09, 2009

A Series of Small Knitted Accessories Not Made of Malabrigo, and a teeny giveaway

While inspecting my stash (Rav link here, don't judge me) I noticed that before I had my head turned by the sexy Malabrigo, there were many other yarns that caught my fancy--so why not knit them up or something? There are worse fates in life than having to knit the yarn you bought on a lark, right? Luckily this is where the cowl becomes a stash bloated knitter's best friend. So all purpose and ready for action. First up...Darkside Cowl in Artyarns Supermerino!

I have a major love-hate with variegated yarns (hence the whole Malabrigo obsession to begin with. Don't the stitches just pop ever so perfectly?), and the variegation on this cowl is just the right amount and is almost on the verge of annoying me, but in the end, it doesn't. The pattern is very quick and make a really nice, elastic fabric.

I seem to have a real thing for the Noro as well and was happy to discover in the above-mentioned stash (still not judging, remember?) more than a few skeins of Cash Iroha. Fourteen of these skeins are set aside for an Hourglass sweater-- Babs has banned me from mentioning this sweater, but just say the word Babs and the Hourglass is ON--but there are several other random colors that seem very cowl worthy.

Can you believe it? Two skeins! Such a nice surprise. Since I have been on a one skein kick recently, no patterns are immediately coming to mind. Any ideas? Suggest a good pattern and I will have Peeper-Lou draw a name and send you a skein of the Artyarns Supermerino pictured above. Let's pay it forward, people. I'll shut the whole thing down around noon on Tuesday. It's all gimmicks, all the time around this joint. Suggest away!

Thanks for reminding me of the Darkside Cowl. I think I'll make one next ... with Malabrigo!

As for a pattern, I checked your stash [I did judge - it's beautiful, what great colors.) to see if you had another color of Mal chunky to combine with but no go. See, you need more stash.

How about Bella's Mittens by subliminalrabbit? I love the idea of goth mittens in lime green and I think cables would look great in this yarn. http://subliminalrabbit.blogspot.com/2008/12/bellas-mittens-updated-pattern.html

That Jodi is so sweet! I think that the Shifting Sands would be lovely - I think Jodi considered it for Just Enough Ruffles but it wasn't just the right color - it could be for you? You never can tell. Otherwise some Evangeline Mitts and the new Evangleine inspired cowl I saw at Ravelry.

Ok - I've got a great plan for your two skeins: you make a quick Hurricane Hat (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/hurricane-hat) with 1 skein and send the other skein to me and I'll knit up a hurricane here in Boston. Whaddya say?

I am not reading everyone else's comments, but the first thing that popped into my head was "Just enough Ruffles." Perfect for two skeins of Malabrigo - love that color. PS - and love your cowls. You always have GREAT cowls!

I am going to buck the trend, just a bit and suggest a "ruffle fluff" scarf by Amy Swenson with a matching hat or matching fingerless gloves. I made ruffle fluff in suri merino and have recieved a swack of complements from my co-workers every time I wear it!

Oh fun! A contest I'm not too late to enter! Yeah for keeping up with my bloglines a little bit more... Anyways what about a scarf as opposed to another cowl? I like the looks of this one in Malabrigo:

As to the Malabrigo, if it were me, I would hold onto them to make Kristen Kapur's All the Water mittens once the pattern is released, but that's b/c I'm totally obsessed with those mittens! Of course, they probably only take one skein (second skein for matching hat or cowl? or Kristen's other latest mitten pattern Breathe Deep))

Another option would be the Scrunchable Scarf, always a delectable option for Malabrigo. I've made the scarf a couple of times with just one skein, resulting in a long skinny scarf. But if I had two skeins, I would do a fatter one (but just as long).

What a gorgeous colorway! I'm sure whatever you pick will be delightful.

Wait. I'm back - is this chunky instead of worsted? If so, then I would suggest a Natty hat by Wendy Bernard and then a pair of Super Mittens (Weekend Knitting) to match. Or at least that's what I did, when I found myself with two skeins of Malabrigo Chunky. I love the hat so much and the mittens were quick and yummy!